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The Reform Party of Canada was born out of a sense of frustration and disillusionment amongst a coalition of western Canadian businessmen and interest groups with what they regarded as the federal Progressive Conservative Party's disregard for the West's contributions to the political and economic well being of the country. Led by Preston Manning, the son of long-time Alberta Social Credit premier Ernest Manning, the coalition supported the creation of a western reform movement as a means of voicing the West's discontent and as an alternative to western separation. Some of the supporters of this idea advocated the creation of a new federal political party promising fiscal responsibility, provincial equality that allowed no special status for Quebec, and parliamentary reform which would include an elected Senate to represent the regions. In May 1987 the newly established Reform Association of Canada organised the "Western Assembly on Canada's Economic and Political Future" in Vancouver to air a reform agenda and to discuss the establishment of a new political party. The Assembly's 300 delegates voted 75% in favour of forming a new political party. In October of that year delegates gathered in Winnipeg to found the Reform Party of Canada, and elected Preston Manning as its leader. In the 1988 federal election, the Party fielded 72 candidates in the 88 ridings west and north of the Manitoba/Ontario border. Although none were elected, the Party succeeded in coming second in 15 ridings in Alberta, receiving 15% of the popular vote in that province. In March 1989 the Party elected its first Member of Parliament when Deborah Grey won a by-election held in Beaver River, Alberta. In the same year Reform candidate Stan Water's became the country's first "elected" senator. By 1990 the Party was a significant political force in the West. Hard campaigning against the Charlottetown Accord brought the Party to national attention. In the federal election of 1993 the Party upset the political establishment by electing 52 Reformers to sit in the House of Commons (including 22 of 26 seats in Alberta and 24 of 30 seats in British Columbia), helping to decimate the Progressive Conservatives in the process. In the 1997 general election Reform increased its seat total to 60, enough to install Manning in the office of the Leader of the Opposition. However, all of Reform's members were from west of Ontario. The Canadian political geography had split mostly along regional lines, with Reform in the West, the ruling Liberals in Ontario, and the Bloc Québécois in Quebec. Discontented with being perceived as a regional party, Manning proposed a radical solution. In September 1998 he initiated the "United Alternative" movement to bring together conservatives from all political backgrounds in an effort to "unite the right", produce a national party and end the vote splitting and stalemate that had resulted from the Progressive Conservative Party and the Reform Party running candidates in the same constituencies, thus allowing Liberal Party candidates to win ridings in which the majority of the electorate was right-wing. Two United Alternative conventions were held in 1999 and 2000 which lay the groundwork for a new party by bringing together supporters and organisers from a variety of right-wing parties, accepting policies, principles and a constitution that was drafted between the two conventions. On March 25, 2000 members of the Reform Party voted 92% in favour of dissolving their party and adopting the constitution of the new political party, and the Canadian Alliance was born.

The impetus for the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory (RAO) was initiated by Mr. Alexander (Sandy) Rothney Cross in December 1970 when he offered to donate a quarter section of land near Priddis, Alberta to the University. The Capital Resources Policy Committee passed a motion in June 1971 to proceed with a tree farm, animal farm and observatory on the land (the tree and animal farms never came to fruition). At Cross’s request, the observatory was named the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory to honour his mother’s side of the family. The site was officially opened in January 1972 by Dr. Margaret Burbidge, then Director of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, who unveiled the RAO’s sundial to symbolize the emergence of the University of Calgary onto the astronomical scene.

Cyril Challice, the Head of the Department of Physics, gave the initial planning of the site to Dr. T. Alan Clark who was joined in September 1971 by Dr. Eugene F.Milone; the two would become co-directors of the facility in 1975 and oversee its modest beginnings to a million-dollar research destination. The equipment first used was a 16 inch (.4 m) research grade telescope ordered by Clark from England with the initial photometer instrumentation obtained from the University of Virginia. This early photometer was modified over the years to become the Rapid Alternate Detection System (RADS), a system developed at the University of Calgary that allows for precision photometry through light cloud and that can adjust for variations in urban light reflections.

In the early 1980s, a Baker-Nunn satellite tracking camera was purchased for $.01 from the Cold Lake Air Force Base and transported to the RAO where it was installed in 1983. At the same time, Dr. George Coyne, then Director of the observatory at the Lunar and Planetary Lab in Tucson facilitated the acquisition of a 1.5 m metal mirror for the RAO. This became the basis of a $198,000 grant to build an alt-alt mounting for an infrared telescope to permit unblocked views of the entire sky and allow observations at the zenith where atmospheric distortion is minimal. The Cross Educational Foundation provided the funds for a building to house the apparatus and a dedication ceremony for the new 1.5 m, 8 tonne infrared telescope (IRT) was held on May 6, 1987. Dr. George Coyne, S.J., now Director of the Vatican Observatory, dedicated the telescope; Mr. Cross officially cut the ribbon. The telescope was renamed the ARCT or the Alexander Rothney Cross telescope to honour Sandy Cross who had donated more land and significant additional funding over the years. At the time, the RAO was Canada’s only dedicated infrared telescope facility, with its advantage of altitude and extreme dry air conditions that allowed for clear observations.

The 1.5 m mirror was replaced in 1993 by a new generation 1.8 m honeycomb mirror created in the Optical Sciences Centre of the University of Arizona. The Astrophysical Research Consortium at the Apache Point Observatory, New Mexico had offered in the late 1980s to fund ½ the costs of polishing the mirror in return for its short-term usage. Dr. Alan Clark developed the design for the mounting and oversaw its construction; first light was achieved through the newly upgraded 1.8 m telescope in January, 1996. A year later, the RAO celebrated its 25th anniversary.

In 2001, Dr. Milone submitted a grant to build a Visitor’s Centre at the site in order to expand outreach and teaching capabilities. The $400,000 submission was successful; the new Visitor’s Centre and teaching facility was official opened in 2005. Dr. Milone stepped down as Director of the RAO on September 1, 2004. Dr. Rene Plume became Acting Director for a year until Philip Langill was named Director.

Sigma Xi (pronounced "chi"), The Scientific Research Society encourages original investigation in science by maintaining companionship among investigators through association with chapters and clubs; by holding meetings for the discussion of scientific subjects; by preparing and distributing scientific publications; by means such as "Grants-in-Aid of Research"; by presenting awards for excellence in research; and by maintaining lectureship programmes. Local clubs and chapters are governed by the Society's constitution and by-laws. Sigma Xi, Calgary Chapter had its beginnings in 1965 when Dr. Richard P. Pharis, Department of Biology, started organizational activities. The University of Calgary Sigma Xi Club was installed in 1967, and monthly noon luncheon meetings started in fall of 1971. In its early years, the Club concentrated on arranging three public lectures a year, and in 1972, began offering the Student Research Prize. It obtained authorized club status in 1979 and was inaugurated as a chapter in 1980. The first president was D.J.I Fry, and the first secretary was Dr. Pharis.

TUCFA is the academic staff association and bargaining unit for the University of Calgary faculty members. It succeeded the Association of Academic Staff at the University of Alberta, Calgary (AASUAC) following the University's autonomy in 1966. The Association was incorporated under "The Universities Amendment Act", 1981, having existed as a society under the Societies Act before that. TUCFA's mandate is: to promote the independence and freedom of teaching, thought and research within the University; to foster academic community among Association members; to promote joint interests and welfare of academic staff associations through CAFA (Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations) and CAUT (Canadian Association of University Teachers); and to collaborate with other bodies on the provincial, national and international level whose interests are similar.

In 1906 the province passed an act authorizing the establishment of a University in Alberta. A Commission was appointed to determine the site and Edmonton was chosen as the University city. Dr. Henry Marshall Tory became the first president when the University first opened its doors in September, 1908. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences staff consisted of William H. Alexander (Professor of Classics), Luther H. Alexander (Professor of Modern Languages), Edmund K. Broadus (Professor of English) and William M. Edwards (Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Civil Engineering). A Board of Governors was set up in 1910 to administer the financial responsibilities of the University with the Senate to administer all academic matters. Some decentralization of University academic studies occured in 1931 when first year courses were taught through Mount Royal College and again in 1946 when the Calgary Branch of the University of Alberta opened. The Board of Governors and Senate at the University of Alberta in Edmonton continued to administer the Calgary Branch until 1965 when the government conceded autonomy in most academic and financial affairs for Calgary. The University of Alberta and the University of Calgary became separate entities in 1966 when full autonomy was accorded to Calgary.

The Evergreen and Gold is the official yearbook of the University of Alberta. It chronicles student life at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and is published annually by the Students' Union.

Except for Mount Royal College (MRC), there were no other facilities of higher education in Calgary in the 1930s and 1940s. Although MRC had been granted permission to offer first year university courses in affiliation with the University of Alberta (U of A), the pressure of returning soldiers seeking an education and a forseeable baby boom made a new facility a necessity. When the government closed the Normal Schools and placed Teacher training under the guidance of the U of A's Faculty of Education, it was seen as a foot in the door by the Calgary University Committee who advocated a full University in Calgary. In 1946 this educational facility became known as the Calgary Branch of the University of Alberta. More courses were gradually added: Arts & Sciences (1951); Commerce (1953); Physical Education (1956); Engineering (1957). In 1957 the campus became known as the University of Alberta in Calgary and became a full-fledged extension of the U of A; in 1961 it was known as the University of Alberta, Calgary; during 1965-1966 it was known as University of Alberta at Calgary. The push for automony in 1964 eventually saw the establishment of separate Faculty councils for Edmonton and Calgary and in May, 1965, the government conceded autonomy in most academic and financial affairs for Calgary. From 1964 to 1966, each campus had its own president and its own General Faculty Council (GFC). Full autonomy was accorded under the new Universities Act in April, 1966. The Library Building Committee at the University of Alberta, Calgary was established by M.G. Taylor, Principal. It became a subcommittee of the University of Alberta (Edmonton) Buildings and Grounds Committee. The Coordinating Council was apparently set up in response to the growing autonomy of the Calgary campus. A new coordinating body was established in 1966 under the Universities Act.